Vented awning

ABSTRACT

An awning having a V-shaped cross section is supported by a cantilever which projects from a vertical support. The vertical support is positioned such that one of the surfaces of the awning faces a prevailing wind while another surface is sheltered from the prevailing wind The latter upper surface has an elongated opening through which the wind may flow. The opening is opened and closed by a means of a flap which pivots from an open position for allowing the wind to pass through the opening to a closed position for preventing the wind and rain from doing so. The flap opens at such time as the force of the wind is sufficient to cause it to do so and closes under the force of gravity at other times.

This invention relates to awnings and more particularly to an awning which is suspended over water by a cantilevered frame in order to protect a boat from rain and the sun while the boat is moored beneath the awning.

An awning is vulnerable to damage in a heavy wind and an awning suspended over a large body of water such as the ocean or lake is particularly vulnerable. That is because there usually is little to moderate the force of wind on the side of the awning facing the body of water since that is often where the wind comes from. The wind will cause an awning to flap excessively, to lift, or to be forced away from where it is normally standing with resulting tearing and other damage to it.

Such damage can be reduced by means of vents for moderating the force of the wind or for deflecting the wind from where it will do most harm to an awning. Examples of such vents are described in a number of U.S. published applications and patents such as no. 2011/0023921 and no. 2010/0243013 both to Li, no. 2004/0121721 to Williams and U.S. Pat. No. 7,913710 to Bougioukos.

I have invented an awning and a cantilevered support for the awning which is particularly suitable for use to protect a boat from rain and the sun while it is moored at a dock or elsewhere on a body of water. To moderate the strength of the wind on the awning, a longitudinally extending opening is formed in the lee side of the awning and the opening is opened or closed by a flap which extends the length of the opening The opening may be entirely open or covered with a mesh which serves to reinforce the area of the awning surrounding the opening.

Briefly, my invention is a combination of an inverted V-shaped awning having a pair of upper surfaces which slope downward and away from opposite sides of an elongated central apex and a cantilever which supports the awning and projects from a vertical support. The vertical support may be positioned such that one of the upper surfaces of the awning faces a prevailing wind and forms the windward side of the awning. The other upper surface of the awning is sheltered from the prevailing wind and forms its lee side. The latter upper surface has an elongated opening through which the wind may flow. A flap is movable from an open position for allowing the wind to pass through the opening to a closed position for preventing the wind from doing so. The flap is adapted to open at such time as the force of the wind is sufficient to cause it to do so and to close under the force of gravity at other times.

The combination of awning and cantilevered support of the subject invention is described with reference to the accompanying photographs and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the subject combination from below in conjunction with a boat and body of water;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the subject combination;

FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of the subject combination from above, and

FIG. 4 is an simplified end view of the subject combination.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the following description.

With reference to FIGS. 1 & 2, the awning of the invention, generally 10, is shown supported by a cantilever, generally 12. The cantilever projects from a pair of vertical support, 14, 16. The cantilever is composed of a framework of lower and upper stringers 18, 20 separated by spacers 22. The framework supports the awning such that the awning forms an inverted V made up of a pair of upper surfaces 10 a and 10 b which slope downward and away from opposite sides of an elongated central apex 26.

The vertical supports are each composed of a pair of vertical columns 30, 32 spaced apart by horizontal spacers 34. One column 32 of each vertical support is joined integrally with lower stringer 18 while the other column 30 is joined integrally with the upper stringer 20.

The stringers and spacers of the cantilever and the columns and spacers of the vertical support are preferably composed of a light weight metal such as aluminum and are hollow and tubular in order to achieve sufficient strength to support the awning without applying an excessive weight on the deck or other solid surface on which the vertical supports rest.

The columns of the vertical supports are welded or otherwise attached to shoes or T-bars 36 in the form of flat bars or tubes which cover a relatively small area or “footprint”. Numerous holes are formed in the shoes for accommodation of bolts for attachment to a dock or other solid base. The many holes makes it possible to position the vertical supports so that one of the upper surfaces in the awning faces the prevailing wind whatever its direction.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the vertical support are positioned such that upper surface 10 b of the awning faces the prevailing wind which is flowing in the direction of arrows 40. Surface 10 b accordingly forms the windward side of the awning while the other upper surface 10 a is sheltered from the prevailing wind and forms the lee side of the awning.

An elongated longitudinally extending opening 42 (illustrated in FIGS. 3 & 4 but omitted in FIG. 2) is formed in the lee side of the awning through which the wind may flow. A flap 44 is attached to the awning adjacent to the upper edge of the opening along the entire length of the opening. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the flap is shown in an open position for allowing the wind to pass through the opening. When the flap is closed, it covers the entire opening and prevents rain from falling through the opening. The weight of the flap is such that it opens at such time as the force of the wind is sufficient to cause it to do so and to close under the force of gravity at other times.

In order to moderate the amount of flapping in the wind, the flap is attached to the awning adjacent to its lower edge 44 a by pieces of cord or rope 46 preferably spaced about 25 to 35 cm apart.

If desired a mesh 50 can be placed over the opening to reinforce the area of the awning surrounding the opening Alternatively, the edges of the opening can be reinforced by a hem to reinforce the edge of the opening and the canvass adjacent to the opening.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the structure of the cantilevered support and awning of the invention without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. In combination, an inverted V-shaped awning having a pair of upper surfaces which slope downward and away from opposite sides of an elongated central apex; a cantilever for supporting said awning; a vertical support from which said cantilever projects and being adapted to be positioned such that one said upper surface faces a prevailing wind and forms the windward side of said awning while the other said upper surface faces away from the prevailing wind and forms the lee side of said awning, the latter said upper surface having an elongated opening through which the wind may flow; a flap movable from an open position for allowing wind and rain to pass through said opening to a closed position for preventing wind and rain from doing so, said flap being adapted to open at such time as the force of the wind is sufficient to cause it to do so and to close under the force of gravity at other times.
 2. The combination of claim 1 further including a mesh disposed in said opening.
 3. In combination, an inverted V-shaped awning having a pair of upper surfaces which slope downward and away from opposite sides of an elongated central apex; a cantilever for supporting said awning over a body of water; a vertical support from which said cantilever projects and being adapted to be positioned on dry land adjacent to said body of water such that one said upper surface faces a prevailing wind flowing from said body of water to said dry land while the other said upper surface is in the lee of said prevailing wind, said upper surface in the lee having an elongated opening having a longitudinal axis parallel to said apex through which the wind may flow; a flap movable from an open position for allowing wind to pass through said opening to a closed position for preventing wind and rain from doing so, said flap being adapted to open at such time as the force of the wind is sufficient to cause it to do so and to close under the force of gravity at other times. 